Re: Asthma attack or tics?

[Guest guest]

Kristie, I can't think " who " but I know someone(s) else here has a

child with asthma so they'll probably respond. But, just my opinion,

I'd err on the side of caution and assume he might be having trouble

breathing since he sometimes says he is. When kids are young, it's

so hard to be sure if they understand exactly what's going on when

they're sick. My oldest was said to have exercise-induced asthma and

used an inhaler for a few years before sports, PE, etc., but the

doctor mostly took his word on his breathing problems. I realize

this is much different from severe asthma. But I often wondered if

he actually had it as lots of people get " out of breath " during

running, etc. He was about 10 (now 16) when he was doing that.

Anyway, I asked the doc, well what if he doesn't have it and is

just " getting out of breath " like normal people (thinking maybe my

son was exaggerating his symptoms) and the doc said that it wouldn't

hurt him to use the inhaler anyway. Tho I agree with you that with

vocal tics it can be hard to tell. Still, I'd err on the cautious

side.

> My son is 5 and has OCD and severe asthma and allergies! The past

few

> days he has been gasping for air and doing something that sounds

like

> wheezing. I don't know if it's his asthma or a new vocal tic,

because

> it almost sounds like he is repeating the same noise. I've asked

him

> if he can breathe o.k. and sometimes he says yes and sometimes he

> says no. He has quite a few vocal tics and it sounds like this

might

> be a new one. BUT I'm not sure. Has anyone else had this problem???

>

> Kristie )

[Guest guest]

Hi Kristie,

I too have a child with OCD, severe asthma and allergies, and several

other significant medical problems. I would suggest using a peak

flow meter. It's a small hand held tool which measures how much air

the child (or adult) with asthma is able to move. Even children as

young as your son can use one, you just blow into it. You need to do

it 2 or 3 times a day for a while to get a sense of what his normal

peak flow is as it's different for everyone. Then, when he is doing

the breathing noise thing, check his peak flow to see if he's really

OK. Your doctor should be able to either give you one or give you a

prescription for one.

Kathy

> My son is 5 and has OCD and severe asthma and allergies! The past

few

> days he has been gasping for air and doing something that sounds

like

> wheezing. I don't know if it's his asthma or a new vocal tic,

because

> it almost sounds like he is repeating the same noise. I've asked

him

> if he can breathe o.k. and sometimes he says yes and sometimes he

> says no. He has quite a few vocal tics and it sounds like this

might

> be a new one. BUT I'm not sure. Has anyone else had this problem???

>

> Kristie )

[Guest guest]

That is a great idea! I didn't even think of that! Thank you!!

Kristie )

> > My son is 5 and has OCD and severe asthma and allergies! The past

> few

> > days he has been gasping for air and doing something that sounds

> like

> > wheezing. I don't know if it's his asthma or a new vocal tic,

> because

> > it almost sounds like he is repeating the same noise. I've asked

> him

> > if he can breathe o.k. and sometimes he says yes and sometimes he

> > says no. He has quite a few vocal tics and it sounds like this

> might

> > be a new one. BUT I'm not sure. Has anyone else had this

problem???

> >

> > Kristie )